NORTH AUCKLAND MAORIS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20047, 20 September 1939, Page 9

NORTH AUCKLAND MAORIS

LABOUR PARTY’S VIEW HOME DEPENCE FORCE (Por Press Association.) AUCKLAND, this day. A statement concerning the decision of the conference of the North Auckland Maoris, when the raising of a volunteer Maori force for home defence was favoured and conscription was opposed, was issued yesterday by the Tokcrau (Northern Maori) executive of the Labour Party, to which, it. is claimed, BO Maori organisations in the north of Auckland are affiliated.

At the conference on September 0. a resolution was unanimously carried approving of eligible Maoris enlisting for military service for home defence alone, and suggesting that a body bo organised and named the “Treaty ol Waitangi Maori Battalion,” under Maori officers. Compulsion was strongly opposed. Since the publication of this resolution about a week ago there have been protests from the Aravva Maoris, who favour an unconditional offer of service, and from a further conference of the North Auckland Maoris, which held that the Maoris should fight side by side with the Europeans and should serve as warriors and nut as labourers.

Propaganda Deplored

In a statement issued yesterday, the Tokcrau executive said it re-affirmed the sentiments expressed in the resolution of the conference held on September 9. It deprecated any attempt !o introduce at tins time of stress political propaganda by individuals or groups throughout the country. A special Maori battalion was desirable, it said, if only from the point of view of preserving the entity of the Maori and all that he stood for. A pioneer or non-combatant battalion was not asked for. The use to which the troops would be put would be entirely a matter for the Government. It would bo time enough to send troops abroad when the Government decided that the necessity had arisen. When that time came there would lie no quibble.

"The name 'Treaty of Waitangi’ emphasises firstly that, nearly 100 years after the treaty was signed, the Maori has volunteered in the defence of the Empire." continued the statement: “secondly. Hint it would serve to draw the attention of both Maori and European (o their respective obligations under the treaty. There is no need for conscription where the northern Maori is concerned. History has proved the prowess of north Auckland tribes and they can be depended upon to repeat in this war what they did in the last.”

It is pointed.out that, the younger men are responding and, for months nasi, have been responding to (lie call for recruits and are to be seen everywhere in uniform to-day. In the meantime, ihose who are in a position to do so will, as requested by the Government, carry on the work ol producing their .full quota of meat, butter and foodstuffs so essential for the successful prosecution of any war.”